World Cup Crock

This is a nightmare of a World Cup, if you're from the Indian sub-continent (but not if you're from Bangladesh).

First off, Bob Woolmer - just as I thought, the police suspect his death was murder; and the underworld betting syndicate is a prime suspect. This is a tragedy of monumental proportions - its like the 9/11 for Cricket, and is going to impact the way Cricket in managed and played from now on.

Last nite, Sri Lanka defeated India, who have been all but bundled out of the tournament. From finalists in 2003 to a first round exit in 2007. One would have expected this from Bermuda, or the 'minnows' in the world cricket - not a self-accoladed super-heavy weight.

The point here is: the BCCI is the richest Cricket board in the world; and the Pakistan Cricket Board is no slouch either in the money stakes. Unfortunately, the power and money has attracted politicians and the power-hungry to run the show. As a result, the state of the game loses focus - the objective seems to be to travel around the world and bully the ICC - and the teams become minnows of the game.

Australia, NZ and South Africa win matches consistently, yet their boards have nowhere near as much money as the BCCI or the PCB control. What they do have, however, is people who understand the game, and what it takes to win. The sub-continent needs to focus on treating the game as a professional sport - which requires discipline, strategy and commitment. I'm not implying that the players don't have that - but they can't do it alone. The controlling bodies need to pull up their game. There's no reason why our cricketers can't have access to the best technology and cutting edge practices that Australia uses - despite being awash with funds, we always seem to be at least a decade behind the world leaders. Australia, and now NZ, keep elevating their preparation to another level - the sub-continent seems to be still struggling with concepts introduced in the 1990s.

India already has one fiasco in the Indian Hockey Federation - after winning 24 consecutive Olympic gold medals, Hockey and India are going nowhere together. Unless there is good leadership, the BCCI will become another IHF, and India's position in Cricket will be no better than our position in Hockey.